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Drew5FA1
Participant
September 1, 2021
Answered

Pen pressure is greyed out in Illustrator on Wacom Tablet on macOS Bug Sur

  • September 1, 2021
  • 9 replies
  • 12930 views

I purchased a Wacom tablet today to work in Illustrator. Despite making sure I followed every step based on System Preferences, the Illustrator pen pressure is still greyed out. I know do not what to do. I've unistalled and restalled this Wacom program multiple times.

 

I'm running OS Big Sur, I followed a document with steps - still nothing. Very frustrating.

 

Has anyone has this issue? What am I missing?

 

 

{Renamed by MOD}

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Anshul_Saini

    I have the exact same issue. Can't install older Illustrator Versions and the brush pressure doesn't work on my app either. I deinstalled and installed Wacom multiple times.

    Can you send me a link too @Anshul_Saini ?

    Best regards,

    Jasmina


    Hi @jacaizda_555,

     

    Sorry for the delayed response. We understand this is a long-standing issue, but it is resolved with update v26.2.1. Please update the app. This update fixes the issue of Wacom tablets not having pen pressure on macOS.

     

    However, if you are not using a Wacom tablet, then I would suggest you install both the Wacom driver & your tablet driver, which will help you get the pen pressure. This is a tested resolution/ workaround for Non-Wacom tablets, and we have confirmed this with multiple users. Let me know if it works for you.

     

    I hope this helps!

     

    Thanks & Regards,
    Anshul Saini

    9 replies

    Anshul_Saini
    Community Manager
    Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    April 5, 2022

    Hi All, 

     

    I know this issue has been pending for a long time. But I am glad to inform you that we have tried to address it with the latest Illustrator update, v26.2.1, released yesterday. I would request you to update and let us know if the issue persists.

     

    Regards,

    Anshul Saini

     

    @seishinkuo @Showgato5CB4

      S
      seishinkuo
      Participant
      April 6, 2022

      It works now. Thank you very much.

       

       

        gammarART
        gammarART
        Participant
        March 22, 2022

        Hey guys,

        is there any current solution for this pen pressure issue with illustrator and Mac OS 12?
        Or can someone please share a link to illustrator 2020 to get my work done at least?

        @Anshul_Saini When you know about this issue – why do Adobe not share the link the normal way at the creative cloud app for the time the problem still exists?

        tonyharmer
        Community Expert
        tonyharmerCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        March 29, 2022

        Hey @gammarART 

         

        Have you tried my solution above? The problem is not specifically with Adobe in this instance and is OS-related (specifically to security).

        gammarART
        gammarART
        Participant
        March 29, 2022

        Yes, I tried.
        But these options only appear with the ooold 2020 Illustrator version.

        No chance with 2021 or 22 here.

        tonyharmer
        Community Expert
        tonyharmerCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        March 15, 2022

        I'd been experiencing this in my studio across all three of the macs that have a Cintiq attached, and have finally found what may hopefully be a fix for you. In the System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Accessibility, make sure that Illustrator is added to the list of apps. Make sure that Illustrator is not running while you make this change.

          Anshul_Saini
          Community Manager
          Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
          Community Manager
          February 1, 2022

          Hi All,

           

          We are really sorry to hear about your experiences. The product team is aware of the issue, and they are currently working on a fix. I would request you and others to please be patient and stay tuned for the updates.

           

          In the meantime, I would request you to reach out to me via DM. I will provide you with a direct download link to an Illustrator version 2020.

          Note: The download link expires after 24 hours. So, I will be sharing the download link via DM only until this issue gets fixed.

           

          Thanks & Regards,

          Anshul Saini

            G
            Gadi Gershon
            Participant
            February 19, 2022

            Hello

            need help with this too...

            thank you!

            M
            MFW-design
            Participant
            March 10, 2022

            Hi @Gadi Gershon,

             

            I've sent a DM. Please check!

            Thanks & regards,

            Anshul Saini 


            Hi @Anshul_Saini 

            same problem here. Could you DM me the dowload link for the 2020 version?

            Thanks in advance!

             

            logynnhailley
            logynnhailley
            Participant
            February 1, 2022

            I was having the same problem. If I open an old file with the correct settings and select a brush stroke with the correct settings, and then start painting, it works. Apparently you can use the pressure setting as long as it already exists in the file. You simply cannot turn the setting on in a new file. 

            A
            Anonymous
            January 4, 2022

            You're not missing anything, many other people have this issue. I had the same problem and was going mad (both insane and angry). 
            TL:DR (I have this from Adobe Illustrator Support, not the forums) this problem is due to Apple changing the way permissions work. It is NOT a Wacom driver issue. 

            Short term work-rounds:
            1. (Worked for me for Photoshop as well as Illustrator) Go to your Brush Library -> Open Brush Library -> Wacom 6D brushes. Select one of those brushes, see if it is pressure-sensitive. I found those brushes to work when no Adobe native brush allowed me to select 'pressure' as a control. You can redefine that brush to be whatever brush (hardness/softness/size) you need. 

            2. Again, worked for me. Open a .eps or .ai file produced in an earlier version of Illustrator. Copy a pressure-sensitive brush stroke and paste it into your new Illustrator document. It brought its brush with it and that brush retained the pressure sensitivity.

            From memory, once I'd done this on at least one occasion all the other brushes became pressure sensitive, even the ones that shouldn't be. But I could turn it off.

             

            Sort-of explanation for the problem: The fact that some brushes worked perfectly while others did not told me that this was NOT a Wacom issue. The problem is that in the new OS the adobe software needs new/additional/different permissions to access the system controls/wacom data. If you look at System Preferences -> Security&Privacy -> Privacy, Wacom AND Adobe software must be showing in 'Accessibility' and in 'Automation' if Adobe software is to work as it should.
            If you have to run the apps via terminal (?this is what the support person said, I don't know what it means but I know how to do it, described below) the brushes will work. Or so he said. If not, use the Wacom 6D brushes reconfigured until they work out how to solve this.

            To run Illustrator via terminal:
            Open your Applications folder, open the 'Adobe Illustrator 2022' folder.
            Left-click or control-click on 'Adobe Illustrator 2022.app', select 'show package contents'
            Open 'Contents', open 'MacOS'.  You will see a file (icon is Unix Executable) named 'Adobe Illustrator'. Run it.
            This opens a Terminal window, then Adobe Illustrator 2022 fires up. In theory the brushes will be useable in the app opened like this, but by the time I tried it I'd tried so many things that I can't remember if it worked or not.

            Good luck!

             

            C
            Carey5CFD
            Participating Frequently
            January 5, 2022

            Hey - Thanks so much for those details.

            So heres how it went:

            #1 got it, understood

            #2 can't do since I dont have files from before 2021 - I'm a newbie here in school for Graphic Design.

            Next section, I had previously checked and confirmed that next part you layed out about going into the system preferences - done.  

            However I found under 'Automation' the Illustrator app option does not show up there so couldn't check any boxes for it, but the Wacom desktop center and driver options did show up there though, and checked.

            And I just tried the last part you listed but no luck there either -bummer...

            TY for sharing your findings tho!

            Hope they work it out sooner than later -

            Matthias Schoeffl
            Matthias Schoeffl
            Participant
            September 23, 2021

            We do have the same problem on all our Macs with Wacom Intuos Pro tablets, and Illustrator CC – all latest available versions (macOS, AI, Wacom drivers). 

            Anshul_Saini
            Community Manager
            Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
            Community Manager
            September 24, 2021

            Hi there,

             

            Sorry about the trouble. I would like to know if you have you tried the steps suggested by the user on this community post (https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/wacom-intuos-4-not-working-with-illustrator-c..._).

             

            Kindly update the discussion if you still need assistance with it. We'd be happy to help.

             

            Thanks & Regards,

            Anshul Saini

              Matthias Schoeffl
              Matthias Schoeffl
              Participant
              September 27, 2021

              Hi Anshul Saini, 

               

              many thanks for the hint – i did exactly what is described in this post and it is OK now and pressure can be chosen again! 

               

              Best regards,

              Matthias 

                Anshul_Saini
                Community Manager
                Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
                Community Manager
                September 1, 2021

                Hi there,

                 

                Sorry about the trouble. As @Monika Gause said, many users are reporting this issue. So, I would request to please share a few more details like:

                • The exact version of macOS Big Sur and Illustrator
                • Are you using an M1-based mac device?
                • Are there any recent changes made to your system? For example, any antivirus, system updates, or web extensions installed recently.
                • Which document steps have you followed? Could you share the link to this document with us?
                • Have you tried the steps shared in this help article (https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/illustrator-cc-crash-wacom-drivers.html)?
                • Does installing the previous version of Illustrator or macOS (Catalina or Mojave) help resolve the issue?
                • Does resetting Illustrator Preferences ( https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/setting-preferences.html) help to resolve the issue?
                  Disclaimer: Please note that resetting preferences will remove all the custom settings, and Illustrator will launch with default settings. You can also take a backup of the folders in case you want to. Location is mentioned in the article.

                 

                I will be looking forward to your response.

                 

                Thanks & Regards,

                Anshul Saini

                D
                Drew5FA1Author
                Participant
                September 1, 2021

                Thank you for replying. These are the links: https://machow2.com/wacom-tablet-driver/ and https://support.wacom.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500006336422-Is-there-a-driver-for-macOS-11-Big-Sur-

                I am running AI 2021, I've reset the preferences to no avail.

                Anshul_Saini
                Community Manager
                Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
                Community Manager
                September 14, 2021

                Sorry for the delayed response, and thank you for sharing the link. One user in the community has shared a solution that works for him. I will request you to try the steps shared by the user in this community post (https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/wacom-intuos-4-not-working-with-illustrator-catalina/m-p/12381328#M291199) and let us know how it goes. I hope it helps.

                 

                Thanks and Regards,

                Anshul Saini

                Monika Gause
                Community Expert
                Monika GauseCommunity Expert
                Community Expert
                September 1, 2021

                A lot of people are reporting that issue to the forums.

                We don't know yet how to solve it. Sorry.

                 

                Nobody even knows if it's Wacom related, system related or Illustrator related.

                For some people it seems to work, but nobody can tell why.

                Sterphy
                Sterphy
                Known Participant
                January 20, 2022

                Adobe really do put out some quality products for us to keep paying for /s

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